Newburgh Toyota Scion expands, big time

TOWN OF NEWBURGH — Newburgh Toyota Scion is expanding dramatically with its move to an almost 6-acre parcel on Route 17K next to the Manheim New York auto auction.

Comment

By Jessica DiNapoli

recordonline.com

By Jessica DiNapoli

Posted Aug. 31, 2012 at 2:00 AM

By Jessica DiNapoli

Posted Aug. 31, 2012 at 2:00 AM

» Social News

TOWN OF NEWBURGH — Newburgh Toyota Scion is expanding dramatically with its move to an almost 6-acre parcel on Route 17K next to the Manheim New York auto auction.

The dealership's new digs will be about 42,000 square feet, almost quadruple the space it currently occupies in two buildings on Route 9W in New Windsor.

The new building will have 23 service bays, a 12-car showroom and drive-in lanes, which allow customers to drive their cars into a covered garage. The Toyota and Scion dealer also will have a parts and retail store.

"It's a state-of-the-art facility to better serve our customer base and new customers," said Mario Giordano, the general manager.

The dealership has been in New Windsor since the early 1970s.

"We've totally outgrown it," Giordano said.

The change also will mean more sales, service, management and office jobs, Giordano said. The dealership's ranks of about 60 employees should increase to about 90.

Newburgh Toyota Scion has been planning the move for more than five years. Since the economic downturn, business had been tough, but this year has been better than last, Giordano said.

The new, brightly lit, glass-and-steel setup will help boost sales, said Frank Fabiano, the general sales manager.

Newburgh Toyota Scion now sells about 1,050 new cars per year, but that number should reach 2,000 in the new space, Giordano said. Used car sales are expected to increase to 800 from 500, he said.

The new location, close to 17K's intersection with Interstate 84, offers more visibility than the current one across from Anthony's Pier 9.

Giordano said there were no viable options farther east down Route 17K or along Route 300 in Newburgh, an area already populated with other car dealerships.

He hopes the new location will serve as an anchor along the sparsely developed section of Route 17K and spur more building there.

Construction on the dealership began in April, and will be finished early next year, said Gregory Shaw, the project engineer. A skeletal steel frame currently looms over 17K.

A few delays slowed the planning process, Shaw said. The Federal Aviation Administration was worried about the building's height and proximity to Stewart International Airport, Shaw said. It also took awhile to get approvals for a left-turn lane on 17K.